LinuxQuestions.org - Use of growisofs

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Use of growisofs

I do not have a full understanding of the use of growisofs.

I think I want to make separate places to store my /root from my /home/user from /opt on a dvd-rw. I see the use of -Z vs -M. I am not clear on whether -Z the initial burn would be used for each input directory and then use -M for updating or -Z for the initial directory and -M when adding more directories.

I understand that growisofs is a front-end to mkisofs but when I write each directory to the dvd do I need to use: /dev/sr0=myfirstiso.iso and for input from each directorie like: /opt, /home/usr, or /root etc. i.e. how do I name the disk I think I understand how to name the directories to burn onto the dvd.

I have read comments about problems with NOT taring files before using growisofs but wonder if the problems may have been more from using the wrong speed or not employing one of mkisofs's options or employing one incorrectly. So let's not go there and let me experiment.

Must I use -use-the-force-luke-xxxx for every mkisofs option I employ?

Do I need to use -joliet-long and/or -J if I am only concerned about keeping some long names I have downloaded for linux when I am using -R? I won't be using my backup dvd on M$.

This is the dumb question: does growisofs effect any of the directories that are being assigned for being backed up?

I'd suggest you experiment using mkisofs, check the results mounting the ISO with the -o loop option, then use growisofs when you are satisfied with your options.

I had already finished the script using growisofs but included mkisofs options (on right of /dev/sr0).
I am still not able to get a good handle on the Z/M question, dropped the -joliet-long and/or -J options, and don't use the -use-the-force-luke-xxxx stuff.
I used numbers to indicate which of 5 directories I want to run and a dry run indicator -- well FWIW here is its guts:

Code:

l=$@

m=$#

if [ "$l" == "" -o "$m" == "5" -o "$n" == "A" ]

then str="1 2 3 4 5"

fi



# Loop until there are no more characters in command line

# Do only as many iterations as there are arguements in command line

j=`echo $str | wc -w`

while  [ $j != 0 ]

do



  k=`echo $str | cut -d" " -f1`

  str=`echo $str | cut -d" " -f2-`



  case $k in

  1) srcPathDir="/root" ;;

  2) srcPathDir="/opt" ;;

  3) srcPathDir="/home/a-user" ;;

  4) srcPathDir="/home/reasyr" ;;

  5) srcPathDir="/etc" ;;

  *) echo -e "\n\tERR($0) Invalid arg(s): $@"

      exit 1 ;;

  esac



# Burn the resulting files to DVD

# NOTE: intentionally not using -use-the-force-luke=dao

# REMOVE COMMENT ON GROWISOFS:

#growisofs $isD -$IOK -speed=1 /dev/sr0 -o /ISO_BU${wdat}.iso \

#          -R -r -nobak -allow-lowercase -l -L -allow-multidot \

#          $srcPathDir



# Test display of DVD write line

echo "growisofs $isD -$IOK -speed=1 /dev/sr0 -o /ISO_BU${wdat}.iso" \

    "          -R -r -nobak -allow-lowercase -l -L -allow-multidot" \

    "          \"$srcPathDir\""

IOK=M

j=`expr $j - 1`    # Decrement arg count



done



# To finalize the multisession DVD maintaining maximum compatibility:

# REMOVE COMMENT ON GROWISOFS:

#growisofs -M /dev/sr0=/dev/zero

Still don't know if this will reburn or only update, gotta test it.

waddles,

It isn’t practical to use CD/DVD discs to backup the data. I tested that in the past. Buy an external hard drive. They’re really cheap now. Use rsync to backup your data. That works as a charm.

I highly agree with w1k0, I just got into using rsync regularly myself.

I am in agreement! I will try to do it with Flash Drives.

I also agree with w1k0,
I've been using rsync for backups for quite some time no with no problems.